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The Match (ERAS and NRMP)

Applicants must apply directly to residency programs in addition to registering for The Match. Most programs participate in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS®), which transmits residency applications to program directors via the Internet. The NRMP is the Match service. Applicants must register with both NRMP and ERAS to use the services of each.

ERAS is the application service that transmits residency applications, letters of recommendation, MSPEs, medical school transcripts, photographs and other supporting credentials from you and your school to residency program directors electronically. ERAS is available to students in May. The Student Affairs Offices collect students’ transcripts, photographs and MSPEs and scan these files into students’ ERAS files. Students input their own personal statements and Curriculum Vitaes into ERAS. ERAS is the service that creates applicants' residency applications. Students will receive an ERAS instruction packet, at the beginning of fourth year, along with a "token" to register with ERAS. When registering with ERAS, applicants will be asked to provide their AAMC ID number. If students don’t know their ID number, ERAS will provide it once they have registered. Applicants will need to keep their AAMC ID#, as this will be their log in thereafter. Applicants will also need their USMLE ID# (located on USMLE Step 1 Score Report) to include within ERAS.

Note: ERAS creates the application and transmits it to selected residency programs. It does not match applicants to programs. In order to match into a residency program (i.e. create a rank list), applicants must apply to the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) or another Match service (e.g. UAU-Urology, SF-Ophthalmology, Military).

Steps in the ERAS Process:

  1. Research programs and contact them for information
  2. Electronic token will be sent to you via e-mail from the Student Affairs Office
  3. Register with ERAS
  4. Create My Profile
  5. Create MyERAS Application (Basically, your C.V.)
  6. Work with MyDocuments
  7. Select residency programs to which you’ll apply
  8. Assign documents to My Programs
  9. Send your application to programs via ERAS
  10. Check the status of your application (The Applicant Document Tracking System)
  11. Add Programs/Update your documents and track assignments
  12. Keep your profile up-to-date

Note: ERAS is available in May. At that time, applicants will be able to start entering the CV information, personal statements, and download/print letter of recommendation forms. ERAS will not begin to transmit applications to residency programs until the ERAS Post Office/ADTS opens, which is mid-September. ADTS is the Applicant Document Tracking System. It allows you to see what documents have been scanned and uploaded to your application as well as what programs have downloaded your applications. Remember there is no one deadline to make applications. Every program determines their own deadline!

Guidelines for NRMP Match

Students will be notified by the Student Affairs Office when to register for the match. Registration is on-line (www.nrmp.org) beginning September 1. The registration fee increases in late November. You must apply to the match in order to create your rank list. NRMP is separate from ERAS. All students applying through ERAS must also apply for the match. In addition to the regular match, the NRMP offers special programs such as the Couples Match.

Couples Match

Couples Match is available on the NRMP website: http://www.nrmp.org/match-process/couples-in-the-match/. Basically, you may couple match with any consenting graduate and with any level of specificity (same program, same hospital, same town, etc.).

Shared-Residency

Shared-residency positions may be offered by some programs participating in the match. In a shared-residency, two residents share one position, usually alternating months or clinical rotations with time off to devote to families, research or other pursuits. Obtaining a shared residency position requires that two applicants who have enrolled separately in the match become partners as a shared-pair by completing the "Shared Residency Pair Form for the Match". Two applicants are then assigned a single AAMC ID code and will be listed on the NRMP Applicant Listing as a combined name. (See NRMP website: www.nrmp.org)

Armed Services Residency

Army, Air Force, and Navy programs all have an early match (December). However, the date for the release of the Dean's Letter is the same as programs in the NRMP Match. Dean's Letters will be transmitted October 1st. Health Professions Scholarship Programs (HPSP) website for the military match and GME training sites: http://medicineandthemilitary.com

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